Machine for trimming heel-breast coverings



Nov. 17, 1931. N, H, KN WL N 1,832,130

MACHINE FOR TRIMMING HEEL BREAST COVERINGS Filed Dec. 17, 1928 Tatented Nov, 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NORWOOD H. KNOWLTON, OF ROCKPORT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, Oi!" PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY MACHINE FOR- TRIMMING HEEL-BREAST COVERINGS Application filed December 17, 1928. Serial No. 326,651.

This invention relates to trimming machines and is illustrated herein as embodied in a machine for trimming heel-breast covermgs.

In preparing a shoe to receive a wooden Louis heel it is customary to split the sole at its rear portion to form a heel-breast-coverin flap which usually covers the entire hee breast. As an improvement on this, United States Letters Patent No. 1,691,149 filed in the name of Anthony Cocozella, discloses a heel the breast of which has a recess of somewhat less width than the heel breast and extending heightwise of the heel breast from the top lift to the attaching surface. The breast-.

covering flap of the heel is fitted within this recess with its opposite lateral edges protected by the side walls of the recess and thus hidden from view. This construction, it is pointed out in that application, obviates a number of disadvantages inherent in heel-breast-covering flaps which extend over the full width of the heel breasts.

In covering heels of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned application, the opposite.

end portions of the side covering are turned over the breast corners of the heel and laid against the lateral margins of the breast at opposite sides of the recess. Sometimes these end portions of the side covering are trimmed flush with the side walls of the recess so that their trimmed edges will abut against the surplus to be turned into the recess and secured to the side Walls thereof as shown, for example, in Fig. 11 of United States Letters Patent No. 1,7 04,204 filed in the name of William H. Nutt. When a breast-covering flap is applied to a heel having a recessed breast and a side covering the end portions of which overlie the si e walls of the recess, as above described, the opposite lateral edges of the flap abut against the outer faces of the tn rnedin end portions of the side covering.

In order to provide a neat joint and thus to produce a pleasing effect where the lateral edges of the breast-covering flap abut against the side walls of the recess in the heel breast, it is necessary that the breast-covering flap the curve of the heel-breast corners, it is an extremely difiicult and slow process accurately to trim the breast-covering flaps by hand.

The heel-breast-covering flap is usually moist with cement at the time it is trimmed and is secured in the recess at its median portion heightwise of the heel and if trimmed to the same size as the recess there isdanger that it will draw away from the lateral edges of the recess as it dries. It is therefore customary to trim the heel-breast-covering flap slightly wider than the recess to allow for subsequent shrinkage of the flap, and this adds to the difiiculty of the hand-trimming operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine for accurately and expeditiously trimming heel-breast-covering flaps for reception in recesses formed in the breasts of heels, which machine will overcome the difficulties just pointed out.

With the above object in View and in accordance with a feature of the invention, the illustrated trimming machine is provided with a knife, a shearing member arranged to co-operate with the knife for trimming a lateral portion of a heel-breast-covering flap of a shoe for reception in a recess in the breast of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a gage arranged to engage one of the side walls of the recess to trim the marginal portion of the covering flap to an outline complemental to the outline of the side wall of the recess engaged by the gage, and means for operating the knife. In the illustrated machine the shearing member and the gage are formed integrally though it should be understood that the invention is not limited to such a construction.

In accordance with another feature of the invention the gage for positioning the heelbreast-covering relatively to the trimming instrumentalities is constructed and arranged to engage the corner formed by the bottom and a side surface of the recess in the breast of a Louis heel, one surface of the gage member contacting with a side wall of the recess shearing member of the illustrated machine is mounted for movement relatively to the oscillating knife to enable the heel-breastcovering flap to be positioned relatively to the combined gage and shearing member before the latter is moved into trimming position relatively to the knife.

With the above and other objects and features in view the invention will now be described as embodied in the machine illus trated in the accompanying drawings, and will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view, partly broken away, of the right trimmer shown in Fig. 1 and illustrating a heel in section which is having its heel-breast-covering flap trimmed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing in detail certain features of the trimming instru mentalities Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the trimmer shown in Fig. 2 with portions thereof removed and broken away clearly to illustrate a portion ofthe mechanism for operating the trimmer;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the heel portion of a shoe having a heel attached thereto and showing a breast-covering flap which has been split from the sole of the shoe and inserted in a recess in the breast of the heel to form a panel efiect;

v Fig. 6 is a front view of an attachment which may be applied to the illustrated machine to fit the machine for trimming heelbreast-covering flaps flush with the sides of a heel;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing in detail portions of the attachment illustrated in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 6.

The illustrated machine is constructed and arranged for preparing the marginal portions of a cover or heel-breast-covering flap 10 (Fig. 2) which have been split from the rear portion of a sole attached to a shoe for reception in arecess 12 in the breast of a Louis heel 14..

In Louis heel work the side covering of a heel is generally applied to the shoe previously to the attachment of the heel to the shoe in heels of the type disclosed in the above-referred-to applications the forwardend porti ons of the side covering are turned-inward- 1y over the breast corners and are secured by a suitable adhesive to the lateral margins of theheel breast, the end portions of the side covering terminating either flush with the side walls of the recess or extending into the recess and being cemented to the side walls thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. The side walls of the recess which is to receive the breast flap may thus be formed either by the outside faces of the marginal portions of the side covering which have been secured in the recess or by the side walls of the recess itself. After the heel has been applied to the shoe the heel-breastcovering flap 10 is trimmed to an outline complemental to the outline of the recess 12 in the breast of the heel to fit accurately into the recess.

In the illustrated machine, the operative parts of the breast-flap-trimming machine are supported upon a standard 16 (Fig. 1) upon which is mounted a head 18 having a housing 20 at each of its ends for enclosing a portion of the mechanism for operating the I trimmers 22.

Each of the trimmers 22 may be used for trimming both of the lateral marginal portions of the heel-breast-covering flap 10 for reception in the recess 12 in the breast of the heel, but in view of the fact that it is more convenient for the operator to start the tr1mming cut at the portion of the flap ad acent to the top-lift-receiving face of the heel and to trim progressively toward the portion of the flap adjacent to the shank portion of the shoe, the illustrated machine is provided with two trimmers having their trimming instrumentalities reversed (Fig. 1) so that the heelbreast-covering flap may be conveniently trimmed in the same direction along each of its lateral marginal portions. Since the trimmers are substantially duplicates of one another, except in so far as their parts are reversed, it will be necessary to describe but one of the trimmers in detail.

Power is supplied to each of the trimmers 22 through a pulley 24 connected by a belt 26 to a motor 28 supported by the standard 16. Each housing 20 (Fig. 4) serves as a bearing for a shaft 28 free to oscillate in the housing 20 and having keyed thereto a hub 30 pro- .vided with a depending arm 32 to which an oscillating knife 34 is attached by a clamp 36. A power shaft 38, upon which the pulley 24 is mounted, is provided with an eccentric pin 40 at its forward end 42 upon which pin a sleeve 44 having a downwardly extend- 1ngarm 46 is mounted. Another hub 48 is mounted upon the rear portion of the shaft 28 which extends into an opening 50 in the housing 20, which hub 48 is fixed to the shaft 28 by set screws 52 and has a bifurcated arm portion 54 pivoted by a pin 56 to the lower end of the arm 46. Rotation of the shaft 38, through the eccentric pin 40 and the sleeve 44, imparts a swinging movement to the bifurcated arm 54 thereby causing the shaft 28, the depending arm 32 and the knife 34 to have an oscillating movement.

In order to support trimming instrumentalities for cooperating with the oscillating knife 34 to sever the heel-breast covering 10, the housing 20 is provided with a shaft 56 'rotatably supported therein and extending forwardly and rearwardly thereof. The forward portion of the shaft 56 extends forwardly of the housing 20 and carries a bracket 58 having a horizontally extending portion 60 and a vertically extending portion 62, which bracket is fixed to the shaft 56 by a set screw 64.

Secured to the lower end of the vertically extending portion .62 of the bracket 58 is a carrier lug 66 having a flange portion 68 for supporting a combined gage and shearing member 7 O, which assists the operator in correctly presenting the heel-breast-covering flap to the trimmer as well as co-operates with the oscillating knife 34 for severing the flap, and a flap guide 72 for assisting in re taining the flap, which is coated with cement and tends to move away from a shearing edge 74 (Fig. 3) of the combined gage and shearing member due to the retracting movement of the oscillating knife 34, adjacent to the shearing edge 74. I

In order further to assist the operator in presenting the work to the trimmer the horizontally extending portion 60 of the bracket 58 is provided with a recess for receiving a sight rod 76 adjustably mounted relatively to the bracket 58 for assisting the operator in lining up the heel relatively to the combined gage and shearing member 70.

In trimming heel-breast-covering flaps it is desirable that the flap 10 be correctly positioned relatively to the gage before the trimming is started. As above indicated, the bracket 58 may be mounted for swinging movement toward and away from the oscillating knife 34, and when the bracket 58 is swung to the limit of'its movement away from the knife 34. i. e.. in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, the oscillating knife does not reach tlfi shearing edge 74 and therefore can not sever the flap.

The swinging of the bracket 58 toward and away from the oscillating kn fe 34 is limited by a lug 78 fixed to the housing 20 by the screw 80 (Fig. 4). The lug 78 is pro vided with a recess 82 ig. 2) at its lower portion for receiving a spring 84 the lower end of which rests upon the surface 86 of the bracket 58 and tends to urge the bracket clockwise relatively to the housing 20 so as to move the combined gage and shearing member 70 out of cutting relation with the A Stt knife 34 when the machine is idle. screw 88 is carried by the top portion of the lug 78, against which screw the bracket may engage to limit its swinging movement in a clockwise direction. relatively to the housing 20. After an operator has become experienced it is unnecessary for the bracket 58 to be moved away from the knife 34 in order to keep the shearing edge 74 and the knife 34 out of severing relationship with one another. Accordingly, the set screw 88 may be turned until the face 86 of the bracket engages the lug 78, thereby holding the bracket 58 rigidly to the housing 20 and maintaining the shearing member 7 0 in co-operative relation with the knife 34.

In order to co-operate with the oscillating knife 34 in severing the heel-breast-covering flap 10, the combined gage and shearing member 70 is positioned just under the oscillating knife 34 and is provided with an end portion 92 having gaging faces 93 and 95 constructed and arranged to engage one of the side walls and the bottom of the recess 12 in the breast of the heel respectively in order accurately to position the heel-breastcovering flap 10 so that after being trimmed it will be of the correct width accurately to fit into the recess 12 to form apleasing panel appearance (Fig. 5). The portion of the combined gage and shearing member 70 which has contact with the oscillating knife 34 is hook shaped (Fig. 3) and comprises a portion 91 which is narrow transversely of the direction of the movement of the knife 34. The under face 94 (Fig. 8) of the combined gage and shearing member 70 are preferably cut on a bevel in order that the work i may be conveniently presented to the shearing edge 74.

The flap guide 7 2, the purpose of which was to the knife 34 and comprises a p ate 96 carrying a guide roll 98 which is located beneath the shearing edge 74 of the combined gage and shearing member 7 O.

In order to trim the heel-breast-covering flap 10 which is usually coated with cement on its inner face 100 (Fig. 2) and has been secured to the recess 12 at its central portion 102, the shoe is presented to the trimmer by hand in such a manner that a marginal portion of the breast-covering flap is positioned between the shearing edge 74 of the combined gage and shearing member 70 and the guide roll 98 by engaging the combined gage and shearing member against a side wall and the bottom of the recess 12 (Fig. 2 lVhen the heel-breast-covering flap 10 has been properly positioned relatively to the trimmer 22, it is moved by hand past the trimmer, the recess 12 being engaged by the combined gage and shearing member 70 as above described. Where it has been found preferable to mamtain the bracket 58 in its retracted position, as shown in Fig. 2, while positioning the work, thereby keeping the oscillating knife 34 and the shearing edge 74 out of trimming relation with one another, the operator after ,the width of the recess after it has been trimmed, which results in the flap 10 being slightly compressed when it is positioned in the recess 12. This feature has been found advantageous in View of the fact that the flap when it is trimmed is coated with cement and is thus in a tempered condition and liable to shrink as it dries. If the flap is slightly compressed at the time it is laid, it will not pull away from the lateral edges of the recess upon drying and thus detract from the appearance of the shoe.

The machine above described may be used to trim breast covers or heel breast covering flaps flush with the breast corners of the heels by utilizing the flap-guide 72 as a gage for engaging the breast of the heel. When trimming breast covers or heel breast covering flaps flush with the breast corners of heels, however, it has been found preferable to sub stitute a gage 104 for the flap-guide 7 2 and to place the gage 104 against the combined gage and shearing member 70 (Figs. 6 and 7) in order that the heel may be canted at an angle such as illustrated in Fig. 6, thereby producing a slight bevel on the cover or breast flap.

In order to trim a heel-breast covering 105 (Fig. 6) flush with a breast corner 106 of the heel, the operator presents the heel to the machine by resting the under face 94 of the combined gage and shearing member 70 against the side of the heel adjacent to one of the breast corners 106 of the heel, the face 103 of the gage 104 resting against the breast of the heel on the outside of the covering 105 and thereby assisting the operator in presenting the work to the oscillating knife 34. The breast corner 106 of the heel is thus positioned substantially in the plane of the face 90 of the combined gage and shearing member 70 so that the heel-breast covering is trimmed flush with the breast corner. The heel is moved by hand past the oscillating knife during the trimming operation, the beveled surface 94 and the gage 104 assisting the operator correctly to position the work relatively to I the trimmer. It will be noted that the portion of the combined gage and shearing member 70 indicated by reference numeral 91 (Fig. 7) is .very narrow in order that the machine, when fitted for trimming coverings flush with the breast corners, will conveniently accommodate Louis heels, the breast corners of which are curved, as well as Cuban heels, the breast corners of which are substantially straight.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, an oscillating knife for trimming the heel-breast-covering flap of a shoe for reception in a recess formed in the breast of a Louis. heel attached to the shoe, a combined gage and shearing member having a gaging surface constructed and arranged to engage a side wall of the recess and having a shearing edge lying substantially in the gag ing surface for co-operating with the knife to trim the flap, a flap guide for correctly positioning the breast-covering flap relatively to the shearing member, and means for oscillating the knife.

2. A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, a knife for trimming the lateral portion of the heel-breast-covering flap of a shoe to fit in a recess formed in the breast of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a combined gage and shearing member having a gaging surface constructed and arranged to engage a corner formed by the bottom and a side wall of the recess to facilitate the positioning of the breast-covering flap relatively to said knife and having a shearing edge lying substantially in the gaging surface for cooperating with the knife to trim the flap, and means for operating the knife.

3. A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, means for trimming a lateral portion of the heel-breast-covering flap of a shoe to a shape similar to that of a side of a U-shaped recess in the breast of 2. Louis heel attached to the shoe, and a gauge having substantially plane heel engaging surfaces constructed and arranged to engage theuncovered heel at the corner formed by the bottom and a side surface of the recess to facilitate the correct positioning of the breast-covering-fiap relatively to the trimming means during the trimming operation.

4. A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, an oscillating knife for trimming a lateral portion of the heelbreast-covering flap of a shoe for reception in a recess formed in the breast of 9. Louis heel attached to the shoe, a member having a shearmg edge arranged to co-operate with the knife in trimming the heel-br'east-coveringfia'p, a gage constructed and arranged to engage a side wall of the recess to facilitate the correct positioning of the breast-covering flap relatively to the knife and the shearing edge, and means for operating the trimming knife in a plane substantially normal to the shearing edge.

5. A'machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, a knife for trimming a lateral portion of the heel-breastcovering flap of a shoe for reception in a recess formed in the breast of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a combined gage and shearing member having a gaging surface constructed and arranged to engage a corner formed by the bottom and a side wall of the recess to facilitate the positioning of the breast-covering flap relatively to said knife and having a shearing edge lying substantially in the gaging surface for co-operating with the knife to trim the flap, a flap guide to assist in positioning the breast-coverin flap relatively to the shearing member, an means for operating the trimming knife.

6. A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, an oscillating knife for trimming a lateral portion of the heelbreast-covering flap of a shoe to a shape complemental to that of a side of a U-shaped recess formed in the breast of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a member having a shearing edge for co-operating with the knife to trim the flap, a gage for engaging a side Wall of the recess to facilitate the positioning of the breast-covering-flap relatively to the knife, a flap guide to assist the positioning of the breast-covering flap relatively to the shearing member, and means for operating said knife in a plane substantially normal to the shearing edge. 7

7. A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, an oscillating knife for trimming a lateral portion of the heelbreast-covering flap of a shoe for reception in a recess formed in the breast of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a combined gage and shearing member having a gaging surface constructed and arranged to engage a corner formed by the bottom and a side wall of the recess to facilitate the positioning of the breast-covering flap relatively to said oscillating knife and having a shearing edge lying substantially in the gaging surface for co-operating with the oscillating knife to trim the flap, and means for oscillating the knife.

8. A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, an oscillating knife for trimming a lateral portion of the heelbreast-covering flap of a shoe to fit in a re cess formed in the breast of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a shearing member cooperating with the oscillating knife for trimming the flap, a gage for engaging a side wall of the recess to assist in positioning the breast-covering-fiap relatively to said oscillating knife, and means for oscillating the knife.

9. A machine for trimming heel covers having, in combination, a knife for trimming the lateral portions of-the heel-breast-covering flap of a shoe for reception in a recess formed in the breast of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a combined gage and shearing member constructed and arranged to engage the corner formed by the bottom and a side wall of the recess to assist in positioning the breast-covering flap relatively to the knife and to cooperate with the knife to trim the flap, means for holding the combined gage and shearing member out of cutting relation with the knife while the machine is idle, and means for operating the knife.

10. A machine for trimming heel covers having, in combination, a knife for trimming the lateral portions of the heel-breast-covering flap of a shoe for reception in a recess formed in the breast of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a combined gage and shearing member constructed and arranged to engage a corner formed bythe bottom and a side wall of the recess to facilitate the positioning of the breast-covering flap relatively to the knife and to co-operate with the knife to trim the flap, said combined gage and shearing member being mounted for movement toward and away'from the knife to place the shearing member and the knife in and out of cutting relation with one another, means tending to move the combined gage and shearing member out of cutting relation with the knife, and means for operating the knife.

11. A machine for trimming heel covers having, in combination, an oscillating knife for trimming the lateral portions of the heelbreast-covering flap of a shoe for reception in a recess formed in the breast of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a combined gage and shearing member constructed and arranged to engage a corner formed by the bottom and a side wall of the recess to facilitate the positioning of the breast-covering flap relatively to the oscillating knife, and to cooperate with the knife to trim the flap, means for urging the combined gage and shearing member out of cutting relation with said oscillating knife while the machine is idle, and means for oscillating the knife.

12. A machine for trimming heel covers having, in combination, an oscillating knife for trimming the lateral portions of the heelbreast-covering flap of a shoe for reception in a recess formed in thebreast' of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a combined gage and shearing member constructed and arranged to engage a corner formed by the bottom and a side wall of the recess to facilitate the positioning "of the breast-covering flap relatively to the oscillating knife and to cooperate with the oscillating lmife to trim the flap, said combined gage and shearing member being mounted for movement toward and away from the oscillating knife to place the shearing member and the oscillating knife in and out of cutting relation with one another, means tending to move the combined gage and shearing member out of cutting relation with said oscillating knife, and means for oscillating the knife.

13. A machine for trimming heel covers having, in combination, a knife for trimming the lateral portions of the heel-breast-covering flap of a shoe for reception in a recess the flap, a flap guide to assist in positioning the breast-covering flap relatively to the shearing member, means tending to move the combined gage and shearing member out of cutting relation with the knife, and means for operating the knife.

14. A machine for trimming heel covers having, in combination, a knife for trimming the lateral portions of the heel-breast-covering flap of a shoe for reception in a recess formed in the breast of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a combined gage and shearing member constructed and arranged to engage the corner formed by the bottom and a side wall of the recess to facilitate the positioning of the breast-covering flap relatively to the knife and to co-operate with the lmife to trim the flap, a flap guide to assist in positioning the breast covering flap relatively to the shearing member, said combined gage and shearing member being mounted for movement toward and away from the knife to place the shearing member and the. knife in and out of cutting relation with one another, means tending to move the combined gage and shearing member out of cutting relation with the knife, and means for operating the knife.

15. A. machine for trimming heel covers having, in combination, a knife for trimming the lateral portions of the heel-breast-covering flap of a shoe for reception in a recess formed, in the breast of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a combined gage and shearing member constructed and arranged to engage a corner formed by the bottom anda side wall of the recess to facilitate the positioning of the breast covering flap relatively to the knife and to co-operate with the knife to trim the flap, a sight to assist inpositioning the breast covering flap relatively to said lmife, and means for operating the knife.

16. A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, an oscillating knife for trimming a lateral portion of the heel breast covering flap of a shoe for reception in a recess formed in the breast of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a combined gage and shearing member constructed and arranged to engage a corner formed by the bottom and a side wall of the recess to facilitate the positioning of the breast-covering flap relatively to said knife and to cooperate with the oscillating knife to trim the flap, said combined gage and shearing member being pivoted for movement toward and away from the knife to place the shearing member and the oscillating knife in and out of cutting relation to each other, and means for oscillating said knife.

17 A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, an oscillating knife for trlmming a lateral portion of the heel-breast-covering flap of a shoe for reception in a recess formed in the breast of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a combined gage and shearing member constructed and arranged to engage a corner formed by the bottom and a side wall of the recess to facilitate the positioning of the breast-covering'flap relatively to the knife and to co-operate with the knife to trim the flap, said combined gage and shearing member bein pivoted for movement toward and away from said knife to place the shearing member and the knife in and out of cutting relation to each other, means for clamping the combined gage and shearing member against movement, and means for oscillating the knife.

18. A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, an oscillating knife for trimming a lateral portion of the heel-breast-covering flap of a shoe to a shape complemental to that of a side of a U-shaped recess formed in the breast of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a combined gage and shearing member constructed and arranged to engage a corner formed by the bottom and a side wall of the recess to facilitate the positioning of the breast-covering flap relatively to the knife and for co-operating with the knife to trim the flap, a fla guide fixed relatively to the shearing member and positioned adjacent to the shearing member to assist in positioning the breast-covering flap relatively to the shearing member, said combined gage and shearing member being arranged between the knife and the guide, and means for oscillating the knife.

19. A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, a knife for trimming the lateral portions of the heel-breastcovering flap of a shoe for reception in a recess formed in the breast of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a shearing member cooperating with the knife for trimming the heel-breast-covering flap, a gage for engaging the side walls of the recess to facilitate the positionin of the breast-covering flap relatively to the knife, means to urge the shearing member and the gage out of cutting relation to the knife while the machine is idle, and means for operating said knife.

20. A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, a knife for trimming the lateral portions of the heel-breastcovering flap of a shoe for reception in a recess formed in the breast of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a shearing member cooperating with the knife for trimming the heel-breast-covering flap, a gage for engaging the side walls of the recess to facilitate the positioning of the breast-covering flap relatively to the knife, said shearing member being mounted for movement toward and away from the. knife to place it in and out of cutting relation with the knife, means tending to move the shearing member and the gage out of cutting relationship with the knife, and means for operating said knife.

21. A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, a knife for trimming the heel-breast-covering flap of a shoe to a shape complementa-l to the contour of a side of a U-shaped recess formed in the breast of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a combined gage and shearing member having a gaging surface for engaging one of the side walls of the recess, said surface having a shearing edge lying substantially in the gaging surfaceand arranged for co-operation with the knife for trimming said flap, means tending to move the shearing member and gage out of cutting relation to the knife, and means for operating the knife.

22. A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, a knife constructed and arranged to trim the heel-breastcovering of a shoe flush with one of the breast corners of a heel towhich the covering has been applied, a shearing member arranged to co-operate with the knife in carrying out the trimming operation, a gage arranged to engage a side of the heel, a gage spaced from the shearing member and arranged to engage the breast of the heel upon the outside of the covering to facilitate the positioning of the covering relatively to the shearing member and the knife as the covering is being trimmed, and means for operating the knife.

23. A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, an oscillating knife constructed and arranged to trim the heeLbreast-covering of a shoe flush with one of the breast corners of a heel to which the covering has been applied, a shearing member arranged to co-operate with the knife in carrying out the trimming operation, a gage arranged to engage a side of the heel, a gage spaced from the shearing member and arranged to engage the breast of the heel upon the outside of the covering to facilitate the positioning of the covering relatively to the shearing member and the knife as the covering is being trimmed, and means for oscillating the knife.

24. A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, an oscillating knife constructed and arranged to trim the heel-breast-covering of a shoe flush with one of the breast corners of a heel to which the covering has been applied, a combined shearing member and gage arranged to co-operate with the knife for trimming the breast covering and provided with a surface to engage a side of the heel to facilitate the positioning of the covering relatively to the oscillating knife, another gage spaced from said shearing member and gage arranged to engage the breast of the heel upon the out side of the covering to assist in positioning the covering relatively to the combined shearing member and gage as the covering is being trimmed, and means for oscillating the knife.

25. A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, an oscillating knife constructed and arranged to trim the heel breast covering of a shoe flush with one of the breast corners of a heel to which the covering has been applied, a shearing member comprising a shearing edge co-operating with the knife and having a portion which is narrow transversely of the direction of movement of the knife and which is in substantial alinement with the shearing edge of said member, said portion being constructed and arranged to position the corner of the heel substantially in alinement with the shearing edge of said member, a gage arranged to engage the breast of the heel upon the outside of the breast covering to facilitate the positioning of the breast covering relatively to the shearing member asthe covering is being trimmed, and means for oscillating the knife.

26. A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, an oscillating knife constructed and arranged for trimming a heel-breast covering of a shoe flush with the breast corners of a heel, a combined gage and shearing member to facilitate the positioning of the breast covering relatively to the knife and arranged to co-operate with the knife in trimming the covering, a gage arranged to engage the breast of the heelupon the outside of the breast covering to assist in positioning the breast covering relatively to the shearing member, said combined gage and shearing member being arranged between the knife and said last-named gage, and means for oscillating the knife.

27 A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, a knife, a shearing member constructed and arranged to cooperate with the knife to trim a lateral portion of a heel-breast-covering fla 3 of a shoe for reception in a recess in the reast of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a gage arranged to engage one of the side walls of the recess to trim the marginal portion of the covering flap toan outline complemental to the outline of the side wall .of the recess engaged by the gage, and means for operating to the shoe, a combined gage and shearing.

member constructed and arranged to engage the corner formed by the bottom and said side of the recess to facilitate the positioning of the heel-breast-covering flap relatively to said knife and to co-operate with the knife to trim the flap, and means for operating the knife.

29. A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, a knife, a shearing member constructed and arranged to cooperate with the knife to trim a lateral portion of the heel-breast-covering flap of a shoe for reception in a recess in the breast of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a gage arranged to engage the corner formed by the bottom and one of the side walls of the recess to position the marginal portion of the covering flap relatively to the knife in order to trim the flap to an outline complemental to the outline of the side wall of the recess for fitting the flap into the corner of the recess engaged by the gage, and means for operating the knife.

30. A machine for trimming heel coverings having, in combination, a knife, a shearing member constructed and arranged to co-operate with the knife to trim a lateral portion of the heel-breast-covering flap of a shoe for reception in a recess in the breast of a Louis heel attached to the shoe, a gage arranged to engage the corner formed by the bottom and one of the side walls of the recess to position the marginal portion of the covering flap relatively to the knife in order to trim the flap to an outline complemental to the out-line of the side wall of the recess for fitting the flap into the corner of the recess engaged by the gage, a flap guide to assist in positioning the heel-breast-covering flap relatively to the knife and the shearing memlloer,f and means for operating the trimming m e.

31. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife constructed and arranged to trim a heel-breast covering of a shoe flush with one of the breast corners of a heel to which the covering has been applied, a combined shearing member and gage comprising a shearing edge arranged to cooperate with the knife in performing the trimming operation, said member being provided with a surface arranged substantially in alinement with the shearing edge and constructed and arranged to engage a side of the heel adjacent to a breast corner of the heel to assure that the covering is trimmed substantially fiush with the breast corners of the heel, a gage spaced from the shearing member and arranged to engage the breast of the heel to cooperate with the said surface in positioning the portion of the covering to be trimmed relatively to the knife, and means for operating the knife.

32. A machine of the class described having, in combination, an oscillating knife constructed and arranged to trim the heel-breast covering of a shoe flush with one of the breast corners of a heel to which the covering has been applied, a member having a shearing edge arranged to co-operate with the knife in carrying out the trimming operation, a gage constructed and arranged'to engage one of the sides of the heel, a gage spaced from the shearing edge and arranged to engage the breast of the heel and to co-operate with the first-named gage to position the portion of the covering to be trimmed relatively to the knife and the member, and means for operating the knife in a plane substantially normal to the shearing edge.

33. A trimming machine having, in combination, a shearing member having a shearing edge, a knife mounted for movement toward and away from the shearing edge for trimming a cover of a heel, and a gaging face spaced from the shearing edge and constructed and arranged to engage the breast portion of the heel, said shearing member comprising a gaging surface constructed and arranged to engage the heel along a surface Which is disposed at an angle to the breast of the heel and having its shearing edge lying substantially in the gaging surface.

34. A trimming machine having, in combination, a shearing member having a shearing edge, an oscillating knife mounted for movement toward and away from the shearing edge for trimming a cover of a heel, and a gaging face spaced from the shearing edge and constructed and arranged to engage the breast portion of the heel, said shearing member comprising a gaging surface constructed and arranged to engage the heel along a surface which is disposed at an angle to the breast of the heel and having its shearing gdge lying substantially in the gaging surace.

35. A trimming machine having, in combination, a shearing member having a shearing edge, a knife mounted for movement toward and away from the shearing edge for trimming a cover of a heel, a gaging face spaced from the shearing edge and constructed and arranged to engage the breast of the heel, said shearing member comprising a gaging surface constructed and arranged to en gage the heel along a surface which is disposed at an angle to the breast of the heel, means for holding the shearing member out of cutting relation with the knife while the machine is idle, and means for operating the knife.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

NORWOOD H. KNOWLTON. 

